Mario Mandzukicai??i??s future at Bayern Munich has come under a lot of speculations recently, especially after the deal to sign Borussia Dortmund star Robert Lewandowski at the end of this season was announced. The 27-year-old became a crucial part of the Bayern squad since his arrival from Wolfsburg in 2012. It was Mandzukic who ousted Mario Gomez as the Jupp Heynckes first choice striker in the treble winning season, and now ironically the arrival of Lewandowski next season has placed question marks on his place in the side.

Mandzukic has started in 12 matches for Bayern in the league this season and has already scored 10 goals for the club. But at times Pep Guardiola has also played Mario Gotze as a false nine, a tactics which he preferred at Barcelona.

The Croatian international has been linked with both Juventus and Arsenal recently, with the Serie A club reportedly leading the chase for his signature, although Mandzukicai??i??s agent did rubbish reports of any contacts with the Italian club. Madzukicai??i??s current contract with Bayern expires in 2016, but reports suggest that the German club are keen to tie him down with an extension. Pep Guardiola has already insisted that the striker will be remain at the club earlier this month and now club president Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has revealed that Bayern will offer him a new contract soon.

“We are absolutely content with Mario Mandzukic. He has outperformed our expectation and we will keep him at Bayern Munich.

Bayernai??i??s director of sports Matthias Sammer has also stressed on how important Mandzukic is to the squad in a recent interview.

“Mario remains a vital player for us. He must accept that there will always be competition for places here.” ai??i?? Sammer said.

Incidentally, Mario Gomez left the club in the summer in search of regular first team action ahead of the World Cup. It will be interesting to see if the man who ousted Gomez from the first team last season, decides to leave the club for similar reasons. But German expert Kit Holden insisted, in an article, that Mandzukicai??i??s case is potentially different to that of Gomez.

ai???Mandzukic, though, will already have represented Croatia at the World Cup before his status is potentially diminished by Lewandowski’s arrival. Not only that, but he has already proved his continued worth in Pep Guardiola’s system of rotation this season, with the Spanish coach opting on many occasions to leave Mandzukic out in favour of playing with a so-called false nine.ai??? ai??i?? Holden wrote for Independent.